National Republican., 1887-03-11
Queen Victoria's Jubilee.

Queen Victoria's Jubilee.
On Tuesday, the 2lst day Of June, in the
present year, will be celebrated In London
the fiftieth anniversary Of the accession
Of Queen Victoria. The various ceremo-
malls attending this jubilee will be carried
out with all the pomp and circumstance
that usually attend an Inauguration,
although 1t marks striking growth In the
simplicity Of democratic principles, even
under monarchy, when we find that par
Lament is only asked for a grant of 900
to celebrate the coming event, whereas
four times that sum was required for the
Inauguration of Victoria, and f2i0,0 900 were
deemed necessary for the investiture Of
George " with regal power. This is only
one symptom Of the decline OF royal pre-.
tensions in Great Britain, and Of the corre-
spending progress of intelligence and com.
mon sense upon economical expenditure OF
OF public money.
Mr.. John Morley, the ultra radical mem.
Der of Mr. Gladstone's late cabinet, made a
wise and fitting comment upon the proprlety
Of spending public money on the proposed
celebration when he remarked that the
movement deserved strong national support
as.following upon half century OF reign
which marks vast and unprecedented in
provement In social order and good man
ners.
1t is not necessary now to recapitulate the
great national triumphs achieved by Great
Britain within the period mentioned, nor to
recall her participation in the worldwide
march Of civilization, but 1t is interesting to
note the change In England's general atti-
tude toward the rest of the world, inclu1-
ing special reference to her relations with
the United States.
| Great Britain, notwithstanding recent ut
terances OF American statesmen to the con-
trary, is no longer the bully among nations
that she had been from the accession of
Queen Elizabeth until the close of the
Napoleonic wars.
There are ample reasons for this subsi-
dence in the proportional development of
other nations, whose careers had been
stunted at birth and thwarted In growth by
the military influence OF different European
dynasties and the conflicting Interests OF
different races. The spread Of education
has broken the spell of heaven.born rulers,
and, with perhaps the exception of Bis
marck's land, the tendency of European
people is toward the principle set forth in
an ancient song, "Let the men that make
the quarrel be the only ones to fight"
Commercial an1 industrial influences have
removed the most formidable barriers OF
race hatred, and the enlightened self-interest
which persisteptly urges lagos maxim, to
"put money in your purse" has taken away
most of the divinity which nedged king:
and noble families.
In this great popular movement England
has been compelled to take a prominen
part. 1t is true, as Frederick Harrison
once said, that even since the accession o
Victoria there have not been half dozel
years In which Great Britain was not en-
gagged in some sort Of warfare In dfferen
parts of the globe. But 1t has been almos
invariably defensive war to protect terri
tory which she deemed her own, and w
can scarcely recall an instance during tina
time of war undertaken by the British gov
eminent for mere acquisition Of new terri
tory. England feels bound to protect tn
people who rely upon her assistance, eve
though the original alliance was by N
means voluntary one.
Insofar as this pacific disposition is due /
any one man, the honor must be claimed 70
Mr.. Gladstone, who, by general acknow
edgment is the first British statesman VIII
has persistently endeavored to apply in tn
affairs Of nations the rules OF common mo
ality which prevail among honest people /
private life.
In the forthcoming London celebratio
no section OF English society will NANTES
more enthusiasm than that which will |
exhibited by American citizens resident
or travelling through England. b
means Of social, commercial and Dc
mestlc combinations the American colon
in London has become u large and eve
increasing factor Of the best English s,
citty. American authors, actors, an
artists Of various kinds 90 to London fl
Saxon gold and other ratflcatlons of the
fame. The compliment is returned Y6'
. interest until Uncle Sam and yns CAV
with their wives, daughters, sIS"' lltt9teisIn
aunts, and uncles, are SiiuaD,~t home O
both sides Of the Atlantic
Lord Garnet Wolseiey has recently state
that he sees the surest guarantee for peat
, in. Europe-as elsewhere-in the ever.i
| /creasirg number Of marriages betwee
Americans and English people. No Britt:
soldier would have made this remark
: 1887, when the young lady named Victor
took charge Of her ancestral domain, al
; certainly no member Of the house of lor'
would have accepted the suggestion of SUI
guarantee. But the "time'spirlt" whlt
unsteathed Wsshington's sword again
the third George will raise the hands al
hats Of Wathingtou's countrymen in r
sponse to ringing cheers at the jubilee
Victoria.